The heartbroken wife of a driver who was killed when a piece of farm machinery fell from a tractor has spoken of her devastation after the company responsible for the tragic accident was sentenced in court.

Margaret Thompson and her husband James Thompson had been travelling along the B1434 Main Street, Howsham, near North Kelsey, when the arm of a seed drill fell and struck their Volvo.

His wife, Margaret, who was also in the car and suffered minor injuries, attended Grimsby Crown Court yesterday (July 14) to hear J E Dale Farmers Ltd plead guilty to offences under section 3 of the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974.

In a heartbreaking victim impact statement read to the court, Mrs Thompson said: "The death of my husband, Jim, has had a profound and long-term effect on my own life and that of my family.

"My grandchildren are now without a treasured grandfather and my son without a father. I have lost my husband, my soul mate. Our lives will never be the same without Jim."

Mr James Thompson, who was killed in the tragic incident (Image: Submitted)

J E Dale Farmers Ltd of Pepperdale Farm, Howsham, pleaded guilty to the offences following an almost four year joint investigation by Humberside Police and the Health and Safety Executive Lincolnshire.

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The tractor was towing a partly manufactured seed drill which had been recently collected from an agricultural engineer in Newton by Toft, near Market Rasen. At the time of the incident the seed drill had no functional hydraulics or safety equipment to ensure safe transportation on the highway.

The investigation by Humberside Police and the Health and Safety Executive concluded that J E Dale Farmers Limited had:

Failed to have in place an adequate system of transportation of the seed drill in relation to safety.

Failed to ensure that the equipment used in the transportation of the drill was adequate in relation to preventing the arms of the seed drill from dropping during transportation.

Failed to ensure that employees were adequately instructed and trained in relation to the safe transportation of the seed drill, including ensuring the adequacy of strapping or other fixing to ensure that the arms of the seed drill did not drop into an unsafe position during transportation.

Judge David Tremberg said the company's "systemic shortcomings" meant the tragic incident was an "accident waiting to happen."

Grimsby Crown Court heard how J E Dale Farmers Ltd tasked a 19-year-old employee with the job of using a tractor to tow a partly manufactured seed drill from an agricultural engineer in Newton by Toft, near Market Rasen, back to the company's farm in Howsham.

Part of the job required the employee to fasten the seed drill's two metre long arms horizontally for transportation using a single strap.

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However, at the time of the incident, the seed drill had no functional hydraulics or safety equipment to ensure safe transportation on the highway.

The Volvo Mr Thompson was travelling in when the tragic incident happened (Image: Submitted)

Grimsby Crown Court heard how not enough tension was applied when the strap was fastened and both arms fell during transit, resulting in catastrophic damage being caused to Mr Thompson's car, which was travelling in the opposite direction along the B1434 Main Street, Howsham, at the time of the accident.

Moments prior to the crash, the tractor towing the seed drill mounted a kerb on the narrow street when it was approached by a large vehicle carrying a low loader. Mr Thompson was travelling directly behind the vehicle.

Prosecutor Jason Pitter QC said the blame should fall with J E Dale Farmers Ltd for not supplying the teenager with adequate training and guidance in ensuring the seed drill was safe to transport, and not the young tractor driver.

In mitigation, Mike Atkins said the directors of the company, who were present in court, expressed regret over the incident and said they were "genuinely devastated by what had happened."

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He added that the company had demonstrated health and safety measures which exceeded what was expected of such a company before the accident happened but said the firm conceded mistakes had been made.

Judge Tremberg ordered the company to pay a fine of £45,000 and costs of £30,000.

Speaking about the impact the incident has had on her life, Mrs Thompson added: "Jim and I were married for 49 years and in January 2014 we were going on a cruise to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

Floral tributes left close to the scene of an accident on Main Street, Howsham, where Mr Thompson sadly died.

"We had a very active social life, bowling, walking and sightseeing on holidays. We were both in good health and enjoying our retirement.

"The quality of my life, however, has been badly affected by the accident and its aftermath. I hope the grief and distress will ease with the passing years."

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She added: "The pain and suffering both my family and I have endured is immeasurable and our pain has continued over four long years since the day of the crash. We have attended several court appearances, each time more traumatic than the last, having to relive the horrific events of Jim's death.

"I have felt that the grieving process has been largely put on hold whilst we have fought the truth, understand why the crash happened and to ensure that no other family should suffer in the manner our family has suffered.

"We sincerely hope lessons can be learned by this case. Jim died needlessly. His death was entirely avoidable. That fact will live with us forever. No price can be placed on a loss of life."

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Thompson's son James, 46, said he wanted to raise awareness of what happened to his father and to urge other agricultural businesses against 'cutting corners.'

"If nothing else was to come from this case it's about raising awareness what can happen if corners are cut. Fundamentally, that's what happened on August 16, 2013," he said.

"Corners were cut and an unfortunate chain of events happened. We carry no blame against the driver.

"It was always obvious to us that it was the failings of the business that led to my father's death.

"We are slightly disappointed with the level of the fine but it just brings closure to something that has gone on for four years."